An eight-foot-tall angel hidden beneath plaster for hundreds of years has now been uncovered at the ‘birthplace of Jesus.’

The elaborate mosaic was found during restoration on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, built nearly 1,700 years ago.

Technicians delicately scraped away layers of plaster to reveal the ancient tiles that have survived centuries of neglect, and are now working to bring it back to life.

‘The Church of the Nativity is one of the first Christian Churches, built in the place where Jesus Christ was born,’ according to Piacenti. ‘It marks the beginning of Christianity and is one of the holiest spots’

The angel was found through the efforts of Italian restoration company, Piacenti S.p.A.

Now, it joins six others that stand watch at the ancient church.

Using a thermographic camera to detect temperature variations between plaster, stone, and glass, Silvia Starinieri first discovered an irregularity in the wall, according to National Geographic.

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In the next phase of the project, the technicians will move on to the floor mosaics, and ‘The Grotto’ – the holiest place in the church, containing the star which marks the exact location of the birth of Jesus

Since 2013, the restoration experts have worked to preserve the many mosaics that decorate the holy building, including images of Jesus, Joseph, and Mother Mary, along with the 12 apostles, saints, and patriarchs.

As the team began to scrape away the plaster, a face crafted from mother-of-pearl emerged first, followed by the golden tiles of a halo.

Since 2013, the restoration experts have worked to preserve the many mosaics that decorate the holy building, including images of Jesus, Joseph, and Mother Mary, along with the 12 apostles, saints, and patriarchs.

All are signed by an artist named Basilius, and were commissioned in the 12th century by king Amalric I and Byzantine emperor Manuel Comnenus, National Geographic reports.

THE 'BIRTHPLACE OF JESUS'

A star marks what's said to be the exact location where Jesus was born, in The Grotto at the Church of the Nativity

The church, located in Bethlehem, was commissioned in 327 A.D. by Emperor Constantine.

Bethlehem sits 10 km south of Jerusalem, and is home to Latin, Greek Orthodox, Franciscan and Armenian convents and churches.

The site is significant to people of both Christian and Muslim faith, and lies along a pilgrimage route.

Construction on the Church of the Nativity was completed in 339, but the building was later destroyed by fire during the Samaritan Revolts in the 6th century.

It was later rebuilt under the reign of Justinian.

In the lower level of the church sits what's thought to be Jesus’s exact birth location.

This area, called ‘The Grotto’ is the holiest place in the church, and is marked by a star underneath an elaborate altar.

‘It marks the beginning of Christianity and is one of the holiest spots,’ according to Piacenti.

In the centuries to follow, the church has stood against centuries of damage from weather, dust, and conflict.

The Church of the Nativity is now on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites in Danger, as it has become dangerously unstable.

The church was commissioned in 327 A.D. by Emperor Constantine, atop the cave where it’s believed that Jesus was born.

‘The Church of the Nativity is one of the first Christian Churches, built in the place where Jesus Christ was born,’ according to Piacenti.

‘It marks the beginning of Christianity and is one of the holiest spots.’

Construction was completed in 339, but the building was later destroyed by the Samaritans during the 6th century.

After it was rebuilt under the reign of Justinian, the church has stood against centuries of damage from weather, dust, and conflict.

In recent years, however, the church has become dangerously unstable.

The elaborate mosaic was found during restoration on the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, built nearly 1,700 years ago

Since 2013, the restoration experts have worked to preserve the many mosaics that decorate the holy building, including images of Jesus, Joseph, and Mother Mary, along with the 12 apostles, saints, and patriarchs

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called upon church patriarchs to save the ancient building, and the restoration team set to work on stabilizing the roof to prevent any further damage to the artwork inside.

At the start of the project, the roof and wooden structures where considered to be ‘in dire need for conservation.’

From September 2013 to March 2015, the restoration team conducted detailed surveys and incorporated a new roof system, along with new windows.

Then, they began to restore the Narthex (the main entrance), the Narthex eastern door, and the stone walls.

In March 2015, the team worked on restoring the wall mosaics, leading them to find a fragment of an angel on the north wall.

The mosaics are signed by an artist named Basilius, and were commissioned in the 12th century by king Amalric I and Byzantine emperor Manuel Comnenus

Following this, they began to restore the main entrance, the eastern door, and the stone walls.

In the next phase of the project, the technicians will move on to the floor mosaics, and ‘The Grotto’ – the holiest place in the church, containing the star which marks the exact location of the birth of Jesus.

Of the many mosaics that once covered much of the building, only about 20 percent have survived to this day, National Geographic reports.

Finding the intact figure of the lost angel, the team explained, ‘seemed like a small miracle.'

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas called upon church patriarchs to save the ancient building, and the restoration team set to work on stabilizing the roof and installing new windows to prevent any further damage to the artwork inside

In recent years, however, the church has become dangerously unstable. After working on the roof, the team began to restore the main entrance, the eastern door, and the stone walls